An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth is a brutal philosophy to guide a person’s life.  It does; however, seem to make more sense than the inhumane acts that are routine events in Afghanistan, Iraq, and other countries in this region.  The most recent example is the rioting in Kabul in protest of some Korans that had been burnt.

I’ve grown a bit agnostic concerning the merits of our presence in this part of the world.  One thing I do know for certain is that my heart sinks every time I hear of the death of one of our soldiers in this region.  In my prayers, I find myself asking for peace to prevail.  As I make this petition, I realize I am asking for a miracle.

The Ayatollah Ali Sistani has been considered an ally in the region, and he is a good example of the State Department’s dilemma.  Sistani teaches that non-Muslims are considered in the same category as urine, feces, semen, dead bodies, blood, dogs, pigs, alcoholic liquors,” and “the sweat of an animal who persistently eats [unclean things]. 

If an ally will make statements like this, what are our enemies saying?

Abraham Lincoln once said:  The best way to destroy an enemy is to make him your friend.  I’m afraid even the wit and wisdom of Lincoln is not enough to make these enemies our friends.

When a find a situation to be discouraging, I look to God for something that is encouraging:  For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come,  nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:38-39).